Combined typewriting and computing machine



March 31. 1925 1,531,854

E. E. FOWLER COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1922 //7 van for b am- A ffor y citizen of the United States Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED. STATES V 1,531,854 PATENT OFFICE.

EWELL E. FOWLER, OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WBITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

Application filed June 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EWELL E. FOWLER, a residing in East Point, in the county 0t Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful "Improvements in Combined Typewriting and Computing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for e1 fecting return movements of a carriage or a typewriting machine, and is in the nature of an improvement on the patent to F. A. Hart, No. 1,281,362, dated October 15, 1918.

In said patent, the letter-space position at which the left-hand margin-stop is set determines the position of the carriage at which the means for returning the carriage is to be thrown into operation. \Vhen the carriage approaches its left-hand limiting position, an arm thereon cams downwardly a pivoted member carried by the marginstop, thereby depressing a transverse bar through which the carriage-return mechanism is thrown into operation. If it is desired to change the point at which the carriage-return movement is to start, the setting of the margin-stop may be changed, or the carriage-return movement started by depression of a special key. Obviously, the changing of the setting of the margin-stop will cause considerable inconvenience, and the starting of the carriage-return movement by the special key will require considerable attention from the operator.

According to the present invention, pr0-.

vision is madewhereby the point at which the carriage-return movement is .to be started may be changed from the point ordinarily determined by the letter-space position of the margin-stop to another point having a definite letter-space relation to the first, and vice versa. without shifting the margin-stop. To this end, provision may be made of a rightward extension of the margin-stop, on whichis pivoted a cammember overlying the usual bar, depression of which throws the carriage-return mechanism into operation. This cam-member is, however, normally below the path of the carriage-arm whereby it is actuable when efi'ective. To control the effectiveness of the cam-member to depress the bar, provision is made of a finger-piece pivoted at the front of said extension and having a resilient arm extending rearwardly therefrom Serial No. 568,198.

and normally positioned so that the cammember will not be raised by it into operative position. When it is desired to have the cam-member on said extension effective to depress the bar, the finger-piece is shifted to bring the resilient arm under the cammember, to raise the latter and hold it in the path of the arm on the carriage. When the c'anmnember is engaged by the arm on the carriage, it will depress the resilient arm and through it depress the bar, thereby throwing the carriage-return mechanism into operation.

Provision may also be made whereby the letter-space distance between the carriagereturn point corresponding to the position of the margin-stop and the carriage-return point corresponding to the position of the cam on the extension may be varied. To accomplish this result, the extension may be adjustably connected with the margin-stop, so that the position of the cam on the extension, with reference to the margin-stop, may be varied, as desired, within the limits determined by the connection between the extension and the margin-stop.

It should be understood that the novel means for starting the carriage-return inechanismmay be mounted independently of the left margin-stop and may be adjust abl set in any desired letter-space position.

ther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied to so much of an Underwood-Hanson machine as is necessary for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of Figure 1 containing the novel structure.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic rear view showing the novel parts in their ineffective positions.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3. but showing the novel parts operatively positioned to enable the carriage-returning mechanism to be thrown into operation thereby.

A left margin-stop 11 is slidably mounted on a shaft 12, journaled at its ends in the 1 frame 13 of the machine, and the marginstop is held in adjusted position by a toothed member 14, which engages a bar or rack 15 at the rear of the shaft 12 and provided with teeth 16 at letter-space distances, these teeth being inclined to the right so as to offer a strong resistance to movement of the margin-stop to the left. Provision is made at the front of the margin-stop 11 of a movable finger-piece 17 connected with the toothed member 14, so that, upon pressing the movable finger-piece 17 towards a fixed finger-piece 18, the toothed member 14 will be withdrawn from effective engagement with the rack 15 and the margin-stop 11 may be shifted to any desired letter-space position. At its rear, the margin-stop 11 is provided with a portion 19 overlyin the bar 15 and extending tothe left 0 the marginstop proper. To prevent turning of the margin-stop 11 about the shaft 12, provision is made of a fork 20 projecting rearwardly from the portion 19 and embracing a rod 21 extending across the frame. The bar 15 is mounted at its ends on arms 22 pivoted on the shaft 12, and is held in its normal raised position by a spring 23 coiled around the shaft 12 and having one end in engagement with a pin 24 on the adjacent arm 22 and the other end connected with a. fixed part of the frame.

Upon movement of the carriage 25 in letter-feeding direction to a limiting position determined by the setting of the margin-stop 11, a forwardly-projecting arm .26 on the carriage will engage a cam-face 27 on a member 28, pivoted on the front of the leftward extension of the portion 19, and depress the member 28 and consequently the toothed bar 15 by means of a cam'29 on the lower edge of the member 28 and normally in engagement with the top of the toothed bar 15. The portion 19 of the margin-stop 11 may be provided with a projection or stop 19 to prevent passage of the arm 26 beyond the high portion of the member 28.

The bar 15, when depressed, will swing about the shaft 12, thereby swinging forwardly the lower end of an arm 30 projecting downwardly from the bar 15. The lower end of the arm 30 lies to the rear of a finger 31 projecting laterally from a link 32, which serves to control means for closing a clutch to, connect the carriage 25 with a carriage-returning mechanism, not

shown. The forward movement of the link 32 is transmited to a transverse rod 33 extending through anotch 34 in the lower edge of the link, thus swinging forwardly the upper end of an arm 35 through which the rod 33 passes, the arm 35 being pivotally mounted to swing about the axis of a rod 36 connecting the arm 35 withv a similar arm, not shown, at the other side of the machine. The link 32 corresponds to the link 58 of said Hart patent, which shifts a latch lever 59 on the vibrating arm 63 into position to actuate a'bellrcrank lever 64 and make the clutch eflective'to return the carriage. The

for other lines.

link 38 supported at its forward end by a link 39 mounted on a pivot 40 at its lower end, and pivotally connected at its upper end with the forward end of the link 38. The link 38 is connected with a motorswitch, not shown. It will be seen that the rod 33 and the link 38 correspond, respectively, to the locking bar 58 and the link 123 of said Hart patent. Upon the forward movement of the links 32 and 38 caused by the movement of the arm 30,.the carriagereturn mechanism, which may be the same as that disclosed in said patent to Hart, will be thrown into operation and the carriage returned to a position to start a new line.

It may be desired to start the carriagereturn movements for certain lines at a point at a definite distance to the rightof the point determined by the mar in-stop 11 obtained by shifting the margin-stop 11, or by use of a special carriage-return key (not shown) at the proper time. According to the present invention, however, provision is made of means rendered effective or ineffective at will, whereby the carriage-return movements ma be started at a point to the right of that etermined by the position of the margin-stop 11. To this end, provision is made of an angle-iron or member 41 having a top portion or flange 42 to rest on the top of the margin-stop 11 and a front portion or flange 43 torest against the front.

Inn

of the margin-stop 11, the flange 41 being adjustably secured in position on the margin-stop 11 by means of screws 44 passing through the lower end of the usual The desired resu t might be pointer 45 and extending through a slot 46 in said front portion 43, the screws 44 differing from those ordinarily in use only in i that they are of greater length. 1

At its right-hand end, the member 41 is provided with a rearward extension 47 havmg a do'wnturned rear end to which is pivoted, by-means of a screw 48, a cam-member 49 overlying the bar 15 and arranged to be positioned in the path of the arm 26. The cam-member 49 lies normally below the path of movement of thearm 26-and therefore will not ordinarily be engaged by the arm 26 to effect depression of the bar 15 and actuation of the carriage-return mechanism. (See Figure 3.) To make the cam-member 49 effectlve or ineffective to depress the bar 15, provision is .made" of a finger-piece 5O normally lying alon shaft 12 and pivoted on the end of a front extension 51 in alignment with the rearward extension 47. Connected with the gar-piece 50 and extending rearwardly from a pivot 52 thereof is a resilient finger or interponent 53 overlying the bar 15 and normally positionedfar enough to the left of the point at which the cam-member 49 the front of theis pivoted to render the cam-member ineffective to depress it. Upon forward movement of the finger-piece 50, however, the resilient finger 53 will be moved under the cam-member 49 close to the pivot thereof, and, upon engagement of the arm 26 with the cam-member 49, the finger 53 will be pressed downwardly and the bar 15 depressed thereby to throw the carriage-return mechanism into operation.

It should be understood that the novel operating device for the carriage-return mechanism may be mounted entirely independently of the margin-stop 11. With such an arrangement, the distances between the points for starting the carriage-return movements may be varied to a very great extent. Inasmuch, however, as the distances between the two points are not very great, it is preferred to embody the invention as an attachment for the left margin-stop formerly in use, especially in view of the fact that it may be applied to the margin-stop formerly in use without any change in the latter by using slightly longer screws 44 for holding the usual pointer 45 in position. By loosening the screws 44, the attachment may be adjusted as desired, the screws then being tightened to secure the attachment in adjusted position.

When the carriage 25 reaches the. end of its return movement, determined by a right margin-stop, not shown, the carriage return mechanism may be thrown out of action in the manner disclosed in said Hart patent.

Variations may be resorted to Within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine having a carriage and carriage-return mechanism therefor. the combination with a margin-stop, and a carriage-actuated cam for starting said carriage-return mechanism, pivoted on said margin-stop, of an attachment for said margin-stop comprising a carriage-actuated cam for starting said carriage-return mechanism before the carriage reaches the position to actuate the starting cam on said margin-stop, a finger-piece, and means controlled by the finger-piece to render said starting cam on the attachment effective or ineffective on said carriage-return mechanism.

2. In a typewriting machine having a car- 'riage and carriage-return mechanism therefor, the combination with a margin-stop, and a. carriage-actuated cam for starting said carriage-return mechanism, pivoted on said margin-stop, of an attachment for said margin-stop comprising a carriage-actuated cam for starting said carriage-return mechanism before the carriage reaches the position to actuate the starting cam on said margin-stop, a finger-piece, and means controlled by the finger-piece to render said starting cam on the attachment eti'ective or ineiiective on said carriage-return mechanism, said attachment being adjustable on said margin-stop to vary the number of letter-space intervals between the two points at which the carriagereturn mechanism may be started by said cams.

3. In a typewriting machine having a carriage and carriage-return mechanism therefor, the combination with a margin-stop, and a carriage-actuated member for starting said carriage-return mechanism, said starting member being mounted on said marginstop, of an attachment for said margin-stop comprising a carriage-actuated member for starting said carriage-return mechanism before the carriage reaches the position to actuate the starting member on said marginstop, a finger-piece, and means controlled by the finger-piece to render said starting memher on the attachment effective or ineffective on said carriage-return mechanism.

4. In a typewriting machine having a carriage. and carriage-return mechanism, a starting device for said carriage-return mechanism settable at difi'erent letterspace intervals along the path of said carriage, said starting device comprising two carriage-actuated cams for starting said carriage-return mechanism, said cams being spaced apart in the direction of carriage travel, a finger-piece on said starting device, and means actuable by said finger-piece to determine which of the cams is to start the carriage-return mechanism.

5. In a typewriting machine having a carriage and carriage-return mechanism, a starting device for said carriage-return mechanism settable at different letter-space intervals along the path of said carriage, said starting device comprising two carriage-actuated cams for starting said carriage-return mechanism, said cams being spaced apart in the direction of carriage travel, a finger-piece on said starting device, andmeans actuable by said finger-piece to determine which of the cams is to start the carriage-return mechanism, said starting device having provisions whereby the letterspace distances between said cams may be varied.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage, of means for starting a power-driven carriage-return mechanism, said starting means comprising two pivoted members positioned to be operated by the carriage, the second of said members to be reached in the letter-feeding direction being alwayseffective to cause a carriage-return movement, and a fingerpiece for determining the effectiveness of the first of said pivoted members to be reached.

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7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage, of a transverse bar depressible to start the operation of a carriage-returning device, two relatively adjustable carriage-actuated devices for depressing said bar, each device comprising a member to be actuated by the carriage, the member last to be reached in a letter-feeding movement always being effective to depress said bar, the first member to be reached in aletter-feeding direction normally being ineffective to depress said bar, and a finger-piece to determine the effectiveness of the first-mentioned member.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of a margin-stop to limit the movement of the carriage in a letter-feeding direction, and means for starting the carriage-return mechanism to return the carriage to position for starting a new line of typing, said starting means comprising a transverse bar extending under the margin-stop, a pivoted member on said margin-stop and overlying said bar, an arm projecting from said carriage to engage said pivoted member and depress the same, said pivoted member normally being inoperative to depress said bar, and an interponent mounted on said stop for movement between said pivoted member and said bar, so that actuation of the former will effect actuation of the latter.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of a margin-stop to limit the movement of the carriage in a letter-feeding direction, and means for starting the carriage-return mechanism to return the carriage to position for starting a new line of typing, said starting means comprising a transverse bar extending under the margin-stop, a pivoted member on said margin-stop and overlying said bar, an arm projecting from said carriage to engage said pivoted member and de ress the same, said pivoted member norma lybeing inoperative to depress said bar, and an interonent mounted on said stop for movement etween said pivoted member and said bar so that actuation of the former will effect actuation of the latter, said interponent bein pivoted on said stop and being provide with a finger-piece, whereby it may be moved to and from its effective position.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of starting means for throwin into action mechanism for returning sai carriage, said starting means comprising a bar extending transversely of the machine, a margin-stop settable at letterspace distances along said bar, a member pivoted on said margimstop over said bar to actuate the latter when depressed, an arm on said carriage to engage said pivoted member and depress the same, and a separate device for depressing said bar comprising a member adjustably mounted on said margin-stop for adjustment along said bar, a member pivoted on said adjustable member above said bar and operable by the arm on the carriage, but normally ineffective to depress said bar, and a resilient finger having its rear end overlying said bar and being movable between the second-mentioned pivoted member and the bar, so that the latter will be actuated upon actuation of the former.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage having a forwardlyprojerting arm, of a stop settable at letterspace distances along the path of said carriage, and means for starting a poweroperated carriage-return mechanism, said starting means comprising a bar underlying said stop, a member for operating said bar, pivoted on said stop in the path of the arm on the carriage to be depressed thereby, and means to determine whether said operating member is to be effective to depress said bar or ineffective for that purpose.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage having a forwardlyprojecting arm, of a stop settable at letterspace distances along the path of said carriage, and means for starting a poweroperated carriage-return mechanism, said starting means comprising a bar underlying said stop, a member for operating said bar, pivoted on said stop in the path of the arm on the carriage to be depressed thereby, and means to determine whether said operating member is to be effective to depress said bar or ineffective for that purpose, said determining means comprising an interponent movable to an effective position for transmitting the movement of said pivoted member to said bar or to an ineffective position.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of carriage-return mechanism including a transverse bar depressible to throw the same into operation, a margin-stop settable at different letterspace positions, a cam pivoted on said margin-stop to actuate said bar directly, said margin-stop having a pointer attached thereto by two screws, and an attachment for said margin-stop comprising an angular plate having a flange resting on the top of the margin-stop and a front flange provided with a longitudinal slot through which said screws pass, thereby permitting adjustment of the attachment with reference to the margin-stop, said top flange having at its right end a forward extension and 'a rear- 1 ward extension having a down-turned end, a cam pivoted on said down-turned end of the rearward extension and actuable by said carriage but ineffective on said transverse bar, a resilient finger pivoted to said forward extension on the lower side thereof and having its rear end overlying said transverse bar, and a finger-piece connected with said resilient finger to move the latter to an inefi'ective position or to an effective position to be flexed downwardly by the cam on the attachment to depress said transverse bar.

14. In a typewriting machine having a carriage and carriage-return mechanism therefor, the combination of means arranged to start the carriage-return mechanism into operation when engaged and moved by the carriage, said starting means being normally out of the path of the carriage and therefore ineffective, and means settable into position to locate and detain .said starting means in the path of the carriage to make the starting means effective. 15. In a typewriting machine having a carriage and carriage-return mechanism therefor, the combination of carriage-actuated means for starting the carriage-return mechanism into operation at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriage, a second carriage-actuated means for starting the carriagereturn mechanism into operation at a different predetermined point in the travel of the carriage, and means settable for rendering one of said starting means inoperable by said carriage independently of the other.

16. In a t pewriting machine having a carriage an carriage-return mechanism therefor, the combination of carriage-actuated means settable to be automatically effective at a selected point'in the travel of the carriage for starting the arriage-return mechanism into operation, a second car riage-actuated means normally ineffective but arranged when effective automatically to start the carriage-return mechanism into operation at a prior selected point in the travel of the carriage, and means'settable for rendering the second-mentioned starting means inoperable by said carriage independently of the first-mentioned starting means, the arrangement being such that the return of the carriage can be normally initiated automatically at the first-mentioned selected point in its travel, but can be temporarily initiated automatically at the second-mentioned selected point.

EWELL E. FOWLER. Witnesses J. F. SOHAD, E. A. Bum). 

